Our Story

The Wake-Up Call

The Jewish Leadership Project (JLP) was founded in 2022 out of deep concern that the organizations American Jews had long relied upon — the ADL, AJC, Federations, and JCRCs — were failing to protect the community.

For decades, antisemitism had been rising, fueled by the radical left, Islamist movements, and extremist groups. Yet the Jewish Establishment chose silence or appeasement, unwilling to confront uncomfortable truths about their progressive allies who had turned hostile.

 

A Moral Duty to Act

Dr. Charles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser, after years of working inside the system, realized they had a moral duty to act. JLP’s first phase focused on pushing Jewish institutions to wake up and prioritize the fight against antisemitism.

But even after October 7 and the explosion of open Jew-hatred that followed, the Establishment refused to change course. It became clear: Jews could no longer wait for failed leadership. They would have to organize for themselves.

A Growing Crisis

 

By 2025, the crisis had grown urgent. Antisemitism was erupting from every direction — on campuses, in schools, in the streets, even in hospitals. Anti-Zionism had become a socially acceptable mask for Jew-hatred, reinforced by decades of Arab funding and ideological capture of America’s cultural and educational institutions.

At the same time, elements of the far right embraced neo-Nazi rhetoric, while many conservatives, Christians, Hindus, Persians, Africans, and others stood with Jews and Israel.

The Lesson

 

The lesson was clear: the Jewish community faced a five-alarm fire, and America itself was at risk. The attack on Jews is not only an attack on a people — it is the opening assault on America’s values, freedoms, and future.

JLP 2.0

 

JLP emerged with clarity and urgency: to build a new movement that defends Jews, forges strong alliances, trains courageous new leaders, and reframes the fight against antisemitism as a fight to save America itself.

 

Meet Our Founders

 

The vision for JLP begins with its founders. Learn more about Dr. Charles Jacobs and his leadership journey:

[Meet Charles →]